SponsorUnited Report: Music Artists and Brands Embrace Emerging Technology to Reinvent the Music Festival Experience

AR & the Metaverse Offer Unprecedented Opportunities as Attendance Surges 40% over 2019

STAMFORD, Conn. , March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SponsorUnited, the leading global sports and entertainment intelligence platform tracking 1.1 million sponsorships and endorsements for 250,000 brands and properties across sports, media, music and entertainment, today released its 2022 Music Festivals & Artists Marketing Partnerships Report, analyzing more than 8,300 brands, 850 artists, and 600 music festivals.

Key findings from the report include:

Snapchat is Transforming Music Festivals – By using augmented reality (AR) to enrich the music festival experience, the buzzy messaging app is reaching new audiences, cultivating loyalty, and capturing key marketing insights. Snapchat has partnered with 16 Live Nation festivals, including Lollapalooza and The Governor's Ball, to provide AR experiences for fans that can help attendees locate friends, discover exclusive landmarks, and purchase merchandise. In reviewing all of Snapchat's sponsorship partners in the music category – artists, festivals, stadiums, etc. – nearly two-thirds (62%) were music festivals.

"Since the inception of gaming, music has played a critical role in immersive experiences for players, and now more than ever, as artists explore novel methods to promote their music and interact with their fanbase beyond conventional channels," said Bob Lynch, Founder and CEO of SponsorUnited. "As the intersection between music and gaming continues to evolve and blur, we anticipate even more imaginative and dynamic collaborations between the two industries in the future."

Deals with Video Games Surge – As gaming's popularity continues to soar, music artists are finding new and innovative ways to engage with audiences through partnerships with video game brands. In a growing trend, gamers are becoming fans of music artists after first hearing their songs in video games–leading stars like Steve Aoki, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Anitta, and Meghan Trainor to team up with nearly 70 brands, including Call of Duty, Roblox, and Fortnite, to promote their work. According to SponsorUnited data, seven of the top 15 endorsed artists have partnered with at least one video game brand, allowing them to reach new audiences and create multi-platform experiences.

Coca-Cola is the #1 Festival Brand – Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Tito's, Monster, and Pepsi took the top five spots for brands aligning with music festivals. These events have become prime targets for the beverage industry, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands exclusively comprising the top 12 by sponsorship volume–underscoring festivals' value as key platforms for these brands to engage their target audiences. The continued emergence of low calorie brands (White Claw Hard Seltzer and Bud Light Seltzer) and ready-to-drink cocktails (High Noon) as marquee festival sponsors reflects the burgeoning shift in consumer preferences, as beverage companies strive to stay relevant in a highly competitive market.

The Top 5 Most Endorsed Artists  – Steve Aoki (25 deals), Snoop Dogg (24 deals), T-Pain (24 deals), Dolly Parton (19 deals), and DJ Khaled (18 deals).

Female Artists Dominate Social Media – Ninety percent of the most engaging artists across all social media channels are women–and nine of the top 10 most engaging artists are female pop singers. K-Pop specifically generates the highest engagement (41% of the top 10), thanks to BlackPink singers, Rosé and Jisoo, and the girl band TWICE. Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Yves Saint Laurent, and Oreo are a handful of the brands leveraging this female-dominated space.

"While male artists receive the more endorsements annually, female artists are wielding a significant influence on social media," continued Lynch. "Brands are becoming increasingly aware of the impactful role female artists are playing within their communities, and we can expect to see a shift towards more balanced partnerships in the future, driven in part by their incredibly high engagement levels.

Sustainability takes center stage – As crises like global warming loom larger and larger on the world stage, music festivals and sponsors are prioritizing sustainability by launching rewards for clean-ups, donation-based initiatives, and brand-backed efforts to give back to the environment. With artists like Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Shawn Mendes leading the industry charge to battle climate change, sustainability will likely become an even greater focus for festivals in the future. To view the full report, visit: www.sponsorunited.com.

Launched in 2018, SponsorUnited is the leading global sports and entertainment intelligence platform, delivering real-time trends and on-demand research that provide invaluable insights. With over 10M data points, 1.1M deals, 250K brands and properties across sports, media, music, and events in one SaaS database, SponsorUnited enables brands, properties and agencies to partner more effectively. By connecting the entire sponsorship ecosystem through the most comprehensive data available anywhere, SponsorUnited is fueling smarter partnerships.

To learn more about SponsorUnited and how the platform is powering stronger partnerships for brands, agencies, properties, and talent, visit: https://sponsorunited.com/.

Media Contact:
Lisa Brown: [email protected]

SOURCE SponsorUnited